Suspension arrangement



1960 w. STOLTENBURG 2,960,704

SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENT Filed May 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Liv/1111111105 IN VEN TORI F/6.7 0 WW Nov. 22, 1960 w. STOLTENBURG E 2,960,704

SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENT Filed May 14. 1956 2 Shegts-Sheet *2 I N VEN TORI BY wwmi rwm Unite. tates Patent "ice I SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENT Wilhelm Stoltenburg, Oberhausen-Sterkrade, Germany,

assignor to Guteholfnungshutte- Sterkrade Aktiengesellschaft, Oberhausen, Rhineland, Germany Filed May 14, 1956, Ser, No. 584,718 Claims priority, application Germany May 14,1955

9 Claims. (Cl. 149-18) The present invention relates to a suspension. arrangement.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a suspension arrangement for a bridge or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a, suspension arrangement capable of supporting a bridge or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a suspension arrangement cap-able of providing a maximum support while requiring a minimum of structural elements. V

The obiects of the present invention also include the, provision of a suspension arrangement for a bridge or the like which may be constructed at low cost.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly resides in a suspension arrangement for a bridge or the like which includes at least one pylon having two inclined leg portions which come together at an upper apex, thepylon being arranged transversely to the bridge with the apex being above the same. Suspension means interconnect the bridge and the pylon and are attached to thelatter in the region of its apex.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, to gether with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a pylon and bridge arrangement according to thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of another pylon and bridge arrangement according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a suspension arrangement according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the suspension arrangement shown in Fig. 3;

' Fig. 5 is a plan view of the suspension arrangement shownin Fig.3;

'Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another suspension arrangement according to the present invention; i

Fig; 7 is a plan view of the suspension arrangement shown in Fig. 6',

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of yet another suspension arrangement according to the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the suspension arrangement shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the suspension arrangement shown in Fig. 8; and v 1 Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a still further suspension arrangement according to the present invention.

- Referring to the drawings, and to Fig. 1 thereof; in particular, there is shown a pylonlll. having tw0..in

2,960,704 Patented Nov. .22, 1960 clined leg portions 11 and 12 which come together at a central upper apex 13. The pylon 10 thus has a shape corresponding substantially to that of an inverted V thereby forming an arch.

The lower end of the leg portions 11 and 12 are either immovably or pivotally supported on the ground by suit-.

able supports 14. The roadway or bridge deck shown schematically at 15 is attached to the leg portions 11 and 12 of the pylon by suitable fastening means shown schematically at 16 and 17. As may readily be seen in Fig. l, the horizontal distance between the leg portions at the level of the bridge deck is greater than the width of the bridge deckso that the pylon straddles the bridge deck.

Suitable suspension means, specific embodiments of which will be shown below, interconnect the bridge deck and the pylon. These suspension means are attached to the pylon in the region of its apex 13, suitable attaching means 18 being provided for this purpose. The suspension means may be in the form of cables and the attaching means 18 are so constructed and arranged as firmly to secure one end of such cables to the pylon.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 differs from the above described one in that the lower ends of the leg portions 21 and 22 of the pylon 20 do not rest on the ground directly. Instead, the roadway or bridge deck 23 which incorporates reinforcing elements 24 located at the sides of the bridge deck is, in the transverse plane of the pylon 20, supported on the ground by suitable sup ports 25. The lower ends of the legportions 21 and 22V are horizontally spaced from each. other a distance corresponding substantially to that: of the width of thebridge deck and are supported on the reinforcing elements 24.

Referring now to Figs. 3-5, the same show a suspension arrangement which includes two inverted substantially V-shaped pylons 30 the lower ends of the leg portions of which are supported by supports 31. These pylons straddle the roadway 32 which is to be suspended, the pylons being arranged, respectively, in spaced pylon planes each of which is substantially normal to the length of thebridge deck 32 with the apex of eachpylon being above the bridge deck. The suspension means interconnectingthe bridge deck and the pylons include an elongated com mon support element 33 which may. be constitutedv by one or more cables. Thesupportelement 33 is arranged between the pylons and is attached at its opposite ends to the apices of the pylons. A number of individual carrier elements 34 are provided. each of which is connected to the common support element 33 and to the" roadway 32. Some of these carrier elements are con nected to the bridge deck at one side thereof while others are connected to the other side of the bridge deck. In this way, pairs of carrier elements 34 which are attached to the support element 3.3 at substantially the same point are inclined to, each other. As a result, a substantially triangular suspension is obtained which is capable of preventing swaying of the bridge deck.

Additional suspension means are provided exteriorly: of the space between the pylons. These additional suspension means include additional support elements 35 attached to the pylons in the region of the respective apices and to the sides of the bridge deck, as well as additional carrier elements 36 attached to the support elements 35 and to the sides of the bridge deck, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3-5.

the roadway 42, and. aplurality of sec ondpanier elements.

44b are attached to the support element 43b and to the other side of the roadway. The arrangement of the parts is such that the support element 43a and the carrier elements 44a are substantially coplanar and lie in a first suspension plane, and that the support element 43b and the carrierelements 44b are also substantially coplanar and lie in a second suspension plane. These planes are normal to the pylon planes of the pylons 40 and are inclined to each other. It will readily be understood that the angle which the two suspension planes form with each other correspond substantially to that which is formed between the leg portions of the pylons.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8-10 the suspension arrangement includes two arch-shaped pylons 50, and the suspension means interconnecting these pylons and the bridge deck 52 include a plurality of elongated suspension elements 53a and 53b. Each of these suspension elements is connected to one of the pylons in the region of its apex and to the bridge deck in the region of one of its sides. As is clearly shown in the drawings, the suspension elements 53a are connected to the bridge deck at one side thereof and the suspension elements 53b at the other side thereof. Thus, the suspension elements 53a and 53b lie substantially in two inclined suspension planes both of which are normal to the pylon planes. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8-10, the suspension elements are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the vertical median plane of the bridge and also with respect to the plane of the pylon to which the suspension elements are attached.

The suspension arrangement illustrated in Fig. 11 differs from that shown in Figs. 8-10 in that but a single pylon 60 is provided which need not be positioned at the center of the span of the bridge deck 62 to be suspended. The suspension elements 53a and 53b which are attached to the pylon in the region of its apex and to the bridge deck in the region of its sides, while being arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the vertical longitudinal median plane of the bridge, are asymmetrically arranged with respect to the plane of the pylon 60. However, the two suspension planes within which the suspension elements 63a and 63b lie, respectively, are inclined to each other, as in the above described embodiment.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of suspension arrangements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a suspension arrangement for a bridge, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the pylons need not have the exact V-shape illustrated in the drawings, and may be so constructed that the apex is constituted by a rounded portion. Also, while the suspension arrangements shown in Figs. 311 are illustrated as incorporating the bridge deck and pylon structure shown in Fig. 1, it will be understood that the bridge deck and pylon arrangement of Fig. 2 could be incorporated.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal. the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A suspension bridge arrangement comprising, in combination, a substantially rigid bridge deck having a pair of longitudinal side edges; at least two inverted substantially V-shapcd pylons each having a central apex,

said pylons being arranged, respectively, in spaced planes each of which is substantially normal to the length of the bridge deck with the apex of each pylon being above the bridge deck; first suspension means interconnecting the bridge deck and said pylons and including an elongated common support element and a plurality of elongated carrier elements, said common support element being arranged between said pylons and being attached at its opposite ends to said pylons in the regions of their apices, respectively, and each of said carrier elements being attached at one of its ends to said common support element and at its other end to the bridge deck, the other end of some of said carrier elements being attached to the bridge deck at one longitudinal side edge thereof and the other end of each of the remainder of said carrier elements being attached to the bridge deck at the opposite longitudinal side edge thereof; and second suspension means including two pairs of elongated suspension elements respectively extending between the apices of said pylons and end portions of said bridge deck located outside of said pylons, one end of said suspension elements in each pair being attached to the apex of said pylons,

. respectively, and the other ends of each pair being respectively attached to opposite side edges of said bridge deck to points on said end portions thereof distant from the respective pylon.

2. A suspension bridge arrangement COIl'lPIlSlHg, H1

.. combination, a substantially rigid bridge deck having a pair of longitudinal side edges; at least two inverted subbridge deck; first suspension means interconnecting the bridge deck and said pylons and including at least two elongated support elements and a plurality of first and second elongated carrier elements, each of said support elements being arranged between said pylons and being attached at its opposite ends to said pylons in the regions of their apices, respectively, each of said first carrier elements being attached at one of its ends to one of said support elements and at its other end to one longitudinal side edge of the bridge, and each of said second carrier elements being attached at one of its ends to the other of said support elements and at its other end to the opposite longitudinal side edge of the bridge deck; and second suspension means including two pairs of elongated suspension elements respectively extending between the apices of said pylons and end portions of said bridge deck located outside of said pylons, one end of said suspension elements in each pair being attached to the apex of said pylons, respectively, and the other ends of each pair being respectively attached to opposite side edges of said bridge deck to points on said end portions thereof distant from the respective pylon.

3. A suspension bridge arrangement comprising, in combination, a substantially rigid bridge deck having a pair of longitudinal side edges; at least two pylons each having two inclined leg portions which come together at an upper apex, said pylons being arranged, respectively, in spaced pylon planes each of which is substantially normal to the length of the bridge deck with the apex of each pylon being above the bridge deck; first suspensionmeans interconnecting the 'bridge deck and said pylon and including an elongated common support element and a plurality of first and second elongated carrier elements, said common support element being arranged between said pylons and being attached at its opposite ends to said pylons in the regions of their apices, respectively, each of said first carrier elements being attached at one of its ends to said common support element and at its other end to the bridge deck at one longitudinal side 7 1 edge thereof, and each of said second carrier elements being attached at one of its ends to said common support element and at its other end to the bridge deck at the other longitudinal side edge thereof, pairs of first and second carrier elements which are attached to said common support element at substantially the same point thus being inclined to each other; and second suspension means including two pairs of elongated suspension elements respectively extending between the apices of said pylons and end portions of said bridge deck located outside of said pylons, one end of said suspension elements in each pair being attached to the apex of said pylons, respectively, and the other ends of each pair being respectively attached to opposite side edges of said bridge deck to points on said end portions thereof distant from the respective pylon.

4. A suspension bridge arrangement comprising, in combination, a substantially rigid bridge deck having a pair of longitudinal side edges; at least two inverted substantially V-shaped pylons each having a central apex, said pylons being arranged, respectively, in spaced planes each of which is substantially normal to the length of the bridge deck with the apex of each pylon being above the bridge deck; first suspension means interconnecting the bridge deck and said pylons and including at least two elongated support elements and a plurality of first and second elongated carrier elements, each of said support elements being arranged between said pylons and being attached at its opposite ends to said pylons in the regions of their apices, respectively, each of said first carrier elements being attached at one of its ends to one of said support elements and at its other end to the bridge at one longitudinal side edge thereof, and each of said second carrier elements being attached at one of its ends to the other of said support elements and at its other end to the bridge at the other longitudinal side edge thereof, said one support element and said plurality of first carrier elements being substantially coplanar and lying in a first suspension plane and said other support element and said plurality of second carrier elements being substantially coplanar and lying in a second suspension plane, said first and second suspension planes both being normal to said pylon planes and being inclined to each other; and second suspension means including two pairs of elongated suspension elements respectively extending between the apices of said pylons and end portions of said bridge located outside of said pylons, one end of said suspension elements in each pair being attached to the apex of said pylons, respectively, and the other ends of each pair being respectively attached to opposite side edges of said bridge to points on said end portions thereof distant from the respective pylon.

5. In a suspension bridge arrangement, in combination, a bridge deck having a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal side edges; at least one upright support arranged in a support plane substantially normal to the length of said bridge deck with a central upper portion thereof located substantially above the medial line of said bridge deck; suspension means secured to said central portion of said upright support above said central portion of said bridge deck and to each longitudinal side edge of said bridge deck at points spaced from said upright support and located at one side of said support plane; and attaching means located on the other side of said support plane and secured to said central portion of said upright support for counter-acting the bending forces exerted on said upright support by said suspension means.

6. In a suspension bridge arrangement, in combination, a bridge deck having a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal side edges; at least one arch-shaped support arranged in a support plane substantially normal to the length of said bridge deck with a central upper portion thereof located above and substantially equidistant from said longitudinal side edges of said bridge deck; suspension means secured to the central portion of said archshaped support and extending to opposite sides of said support plane, said suspension means being secured at opposite points to opposite side edges of said bridge deck spaced from said support plane and the other suspension means of each of said pairs of suspension means secured to said central upper portion of said arch-shaped support and to the other longitudinal side of said bridge deck at a point spaced from said support plane.

7. A suspension bridge as defined in claim 6 in which said suspension means comprises a plurality of suspension members and in which there are a plurality of 0pposed points to which said plurality of suspension members are attached, said opposed points being difierently spaced from said support plane.

8. A suspension bridge as defined in claim 7 in which the plurality of suspension members are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to said support plane.

9. A suspension bridge as defined in claim 6 in which said arch-shaped support is in the form of a V-shaped pylon having two inclined leg portions which come together at an upper apex above said bridge deck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 467,013 Miller Jan. 12, 1892 504,559 Clarke Sept. 5, 1893 510,674 Cameron Dec. 12, 1893 2,059,693 Hamilton Nov. 3, 1936 2,661,488 Kenan Dec. 8, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 738,644 Germany Aug. 26, 1943 978,811 France Nov. 29, 1950 1,062,695 France Dec. 9, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES Engineering News Record, September 2, 1948, page 86. 

